So you wanna see if you can solve the mystery of Jehovah’s Witnesses huh? Who are they? What do they believe… all that jazz… What are their rules? Well… sorry folks, only answering one of those things today. And I’m not even sure what you’re about to get is an answer. ← How ya like THAT mystery? [Read more…]

Ok, so you’re reading this, so you clearly don’t live under a rock. And you’re reading this, so you OBVIOUSLY cannot get enough of the Stranger Things series on Netflix! Well, my friend, you’re in good company! Neither could I! Now, if you’re someone who is reading this just to see what the hype is all about; Quit reading right now.

No, seriously. Just… just go. Don’t listen to anything anyone has to say, go watch it, and form your own opinion THEN you can come back and read this. Don’t have Netflix? That’s fine… but I’m sure you know someone who does. Bring them a pack of Tab and (some sort of 80’s candy) and get it watched RIGHT THIS MINUTE. Once you’ve accomplished this binge watch session, return and report. [Read more…]

I’m 4’ 11”. I’ve been 4’ 11” since about fourth or fifth grade. I thought, at one point, that I was 4’ 11” and 3/4. In fact, one time a doctor even told me I should just go ahead and say that I’m 5 feet tall since I was just about there. Or maybe I was dreaming that…? In a nutshell, I’m short. Really short, obviously.

Not that I mind, I mean I can still go on all the rides at amusement parks and wear heels and for the most part buy clothes from regular stores (with a little hemming action done by your’s truly at home). There are some perks to being short, and also some pitfalls. But being short is all I’ve ever known, obviously. So I guess I’ll focus on the positives and stick with that! All-in-all, being a short girl really isn’t that bad. [Read more…]

One day, long, long…. LONG long ago, I attended my first day of school in a Spanish Immersion program. I was enrolled in this program from 1st grade until 7th grade, when I finally switched to regular English classes. Now, some years later (now that I’m old and wrinkly, I’ve come to appreciate the whole “a lady never tells her age” thing) I wonder if there is some sort of Spanish Immersion program for adults offered anywhere.

Wondering why? Why would I wonder about an adult Immersion program if I attended the program for so long? Should I be fluent (granted the fact that you don’t know my age… but I’m sure you’re looking at my photo thinking, eh… she doesn’t look THAT old… listen, I’m old enough! Alright?! Just trust me) Well, let me explain! Shall we go back to the beginning? Yes, I think we shall. Waaaaaaay back… [Read more…]

Are you a road-trip family? Our family takes road trips fairly frequently, if not at least yearly. With a 12 ½ year old girl and 7 ½ year old boy it takes some serious creativity to make our long… LONG road trips tolerable (by long I mean our most recent road trip was actually TWO trips. One to Idaho which is typically a 12 hour drive – turned into a 17 hour drive due to a massive crash, and another the next day which is typically a 9 hour drive – turned into a 12 hour drive due to several more massive crashes). I’ve experimented with different ideas. Some have won, some haven’t. So for your travel pleasure I have consulted with the experts (read: one daughter and one son) to bring you our kids’ favorite things to do on road trips.

I spent a couple of weeks prior to vacation researching ideas for the kids on Pinterest hoping to find things fun things to keep them off their ipods and iphones and get their little brains working and excited. You know, maybe get them to look out the window, interact with each other (and us) and maybe learn a little bit too. [Read more…]

After spending 16 long years in Seattle where I was raised I decided it was high-time I moved to someplace warmer. I was born in San Francisco, and my family traveled to visit family there often. I had heard stories of San Diego weather being 80 degrees year-round. This sounded like my kind of place, so in October 2002 I packed my small amount of things and hit the road to stay with my Aunt in Riverside County. My first 3 months in Southern California left me thinking there must be other naive Northern-states people planning their big move to Southern California who have no idea what to really expect!! So I thought it was important to be one to step up and give it to you straight because there’s definitely a few things to know before moving to California. [Read more…]

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live in California? In my “day job” I regularly talk to people all over the country on an almost daily basis, and more often than not they’re not from the state of California. It seems I almost always get the same comments from everyone “Must be nice!”. It makes me wonder what people really think living in California is like? I thought the best way to go about giving all Non-Californian’s insight about what life is really like living in California would be to review some responses that Californian’s would use to finish the statement: You know you’re from California when…[Read more…]